Paving the way for healthy aging: analysis and development of an electronic frailty index for Finnish healthcare to identify vulnerable individuals at early stages (FINeFI)

Frailty is a state of increased vulnerability that manifests as decreased physiological reserves and functioning across multiple organ systems, showing signs already at midlife. Frailty is associated with multiple negative health outcomes such as high healthcare utilization, disability, and mortality. Additionally, frailty can be considered as a determinant of healthy aging as well as emerging public health priority. However, frailty is reversible, especially if detected at an early stage. To date, however, there are no effective population-level strategies to identify the middle-aged and older individuals who are at increased risk of frailty.

The aim of the study is to analyse, and develop an electronic frailty index (eFI), a bespoke tool for Finnish electronic health record system to enable early identification of vulnerable individuals. The study is conducted in collaboration between University of Jyväskylä, Gerontology research centre, and Tampere university, Gerontology research centre.

Funding
Research Council of Finland (2022-2026)

Research group
Principal investigators
Juulia Jylhävä, Associate Professor,
Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, University of Tampere, juulia.jylhava@tuni.fi
Mikaela von Bonsdorff, Professor,
Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, mikaela.vonbonsdorff@jyu.fi

Markus Haapanen, PhD, Folkhälsan Research Center, University of Oulu
Jake Lin, PhD, Gerontology Research Center, University of Tampere
Esha Khan, Doctoral Researcher, Gerontology Research Center, University of Tampere
Anna Tirkkonen, PhD, Gerontology Research Center, University of Jyväskylä

Collaborators
Veracell Oy